In July, reports of phone-hacking at News International erupted into a crisis for the press, police and politicians. For one lawyer and three backbench MPs – three of whom had been under surveillance themselves – it was the defining moment of their careers, says Andrew Anthony

Guardian media correspondent James Robinson examines James Murdoch's appearance before the Commons select committee – where he described Myler and Crone's testimony as 'misleading' and Tom Watson's line of questioning about the mafia as 'offensive'